Food injection device

ABSTRACT

A device to inject solid materials into foods and other objects. The device utilizes a hollow needle with a moving cover at one end. A plunger moves inside the hollow needle to push contents from the needle into the object to be injected. Various apparatus for moving the can be utilized.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application is a continuation of application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/891,915, filed Jun. 26, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present inventions are directed primarily toward foodpreparation devices and particularly toward devices which injectsubstances into foods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is common today for cooks in homes, bakeries and restaurantsto use hypodermic type needles to inject marinades, flavorings and otherliquid substances into meats and other food products. Such devices arealso commonly used to inject more viscous liquids and semi liquids suchas jellies, frostings, puddings, into such foods as cakes, cream puffs,eclairs and cupcakes. Typically these devices resemble oversized medicalhypodermic syringes which the cook fills through the back of the barreland hand operates by pushing a plunger. These devices allow flavoringsto penetrate inside and throughout the food and provide foods with amoistness, texture, and/or taste they might otherwise lack.

[0004] Commercial food injection devices have also been in common usefor many years. Like their home and restaurant counterparts, thesedevices typically use hollow needles inserted into the food to injectliquids and semi liquid substances. Their applications include not onlyinjecting flavorings and food substances such as already mentioned, butalso liquid and semi liquid substances to increase food weight, decreasespoilage, and help in processing. Three such commercial food injectiondevices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,455,928, Townsend—Means forInjecting Fluids Into Food Products; 5,275,095, Van Haren—BrineInjection Device; 5,881,640, Raevsager—Apparatus for Injecting BrineInto Food Products.

[0005] All the aforementioned devices are limited to injecting liquidsand semi liquids. Solid materials such as dried spices, salt, sugar,sunflower seeds, peanuts, garlic cloves, chunks of pineapple,jellybeans, chunky peanut butter, etc. cannot be injected using any ofthese devices.

[0006] It would be useful to have a mechanism which could inject solidsubstances such as just mentioned into foods. Such a device also mightfind wider use in medical and other settings.

[0007] As examples, whole peanuts could be injected into sesame rolls,or pineapple chunks injected into hams, or garlic cloves injected into apot roast, or jellybeans injected into frosted cupcakes, or lemon chunksinjected into rotisserie cooked chicken, or walnuts injected into roastbeef, or ice cream injected into angel food cake, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Several embodiments of the present inventions are illustrated inthe appended figures. In brief, all embodiments comprise fourinterrelated sections: the injection needle, the solid material mover,the power drive, and the material loading mechanism.

[0009] Starting with the injection needle, embodiments as illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 7, show two alternative constructions 20 and 22, bothhaving needles 21 and 23, ending in penetrating points 24 and 26, andboth having movable port covers, shown respectively as 28 and 30, tocover respectively injected solid exits 32 and 34. Penetrating points 24and 26 allow piercing into the object to be injected. Movable portcovers 28 and 30 may serve either and/or both the purpose or purposes ofstructurally supporting penetrating points 24 and 26, and/or restrainingmaterials to be injected from leaving the needle until the materials aredriven out by the solid material mover.

[0010] In the embodiments as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the solidmaterial mover comprises plunger 36 which slides into and out of needle21 or needle 23 and thus pushes solids out respectively through foodinjected solid exits 32 or 34 covered by respectively movable port cover28 and 30.

[0011] In turn, plunger 36 is pushed into needle 21 or 23 by the powerdrive mechanism comprising pusher plunger 38 which slides inside ofbarrel 40 driven by manual pressure.

[0012]FIG. 8 shows another configuration for the power drive mechanismcomprising direct manual pressure on plunger 84. This eliminates theneed for pusher plunger 38, barrel 40 and needle ring securing nut 54.

[0013] Other configurations for the power drive mechanism might also beemployed. As examples, a solenoid drive such as used in electric stapleguns, or a powered screw drive mechanism such as used in electric cookiepresses, or a ratcheted screw drive mechanism such as used in electriccaulking guns, or a flexible shaft drive such as used in orthopedicsurgical equipment might also be used to replace the mechanismpreviously described.

[0014] One example of a motor drive is illustrated in FIG. 9. As alreadydescribed, this embodiment uses a gear reduced electric motor to drive aplunger which pushes material to be injected out of the injection needleand into the object to be injected.

[0015] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, the materialloading mechanism comprises placing solids to be injected into needle 21through opening 42 or into needle 23 through opening 44. Openings 42 and44 are opposite respectively penetrating points 24 and 26 on theirrespective needles 21 and 23. In the example shown in FIG. 1 needle 21or 23 must first be removed from barrel 40 by unscrewing needle ringsecuring nut 54 before materials may be loaded through openings 42 or44. Alternatively, pusher plunger 38 and plunger 36 may be backed out ofbarrel 40 and materials to be injected may be dropped into the back ofbarrel 40 where they may drop by gravity into needle 21 or needle 23.Plunger 36 and pusher plunger 38 would then be reinserted into barrel40.

[0016] Alternatively, the material loading mechanism may comprisesplitting 46 needle 21 or splitting 48 needle 23 and hinging a portionof each needle so that the unhinged portion could dip into and scoop upsolids and semi solids to be injected. This dipping and scooping issimilar to a spoon scooping up material. After dipping, scooping andfilling the needle, the hinged portion of the needle would be swung backinto place and secured, as an example, by sliding ring 50 or 52respectively over needle 21 or 23, and plunger 36 driven by the powerdrive mechanism would push the solids or semi solids out respectivelythrough injected solid exits 32 or 34. Ring 50 or 52 could be held inplace on their respective needles 21 and 23 by friction or by a smallprotrusion sliding over an indented groove to make a snap fit. Such snapfits are well known in the art and thus are not described in detailherein.

[0017] To make operation easier of the material loading mechanism justdescribed, hinge 72 might be biased so hinged needle portion 60naturally springs outward as shown in FIG. 3 when ring 50 is removedfrom needle 21. This would mean needle 21 would be naturally open forscooping when ring 50 was removed. Alternatively, or in conjunction withthe above, finger lever 74 attached to hinged needle portion 60 mighthelp with finger pressure to move hinged needle portion 60 to its openposition as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3.

[0018] Operating the embodiment comprises the steps of filling needle 21or 23 with solids 66 using one of the material loading mechanisms suchas just described or an equivalent. Once the embodiment is loaded andany needed reassembly completed, the needle is pierced into the objectto be injected, and the power drive mechanism is activated, as anexample by manual pressure as described above on intermediate thumb pads60 and/or on primary thumb pad 58. This causes solids 66 to be expelledfrom the embodiment as shown in FIG. 7.

[0019] The embodiment may be constructed at any scale including:small-scales, appropriate for use in orthopedic surgery or other medicalprocedures such as implanting solid medicines or objects; intermediatescales such as illustrated in the appended figures for use in foodpreparation; to larger scales appropriate for inserting solid objectsunderground or other places.

[0020] Likewise, many different materials may be appropriate for use inconstructing embodiments of the present inventions. As examples, theembodiment shown may have needles 21 and 23 constructed from pliableplastics such as polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene or polycarbonate.Barrel 40, pusher plunger 38, and needle ring securing might as examplesbe made from ABS, polycarbonate, polypropylene, acrylic diecast aluminumetc. Medical embodiments of the present inventions might use similarmaterials or might be constructed from other materials such as stainlesssteel.

[0021] Other features might easily be added to the preferred embodimentsuch as volumetric measuring markings on the side of needles 21 and 23or barrel 40. Clear or translucent materials on needles 21 and 23 andbarrel 40 might help or be necessary in the use of such markings.

[0022] The embodiment may also be used for injecting all viscosity ofliquids, including: light viscosity liquids, semi liquids, highlyviscous liquids, and liquids containing solids. To accomplish thesetolerances between plunger 36 and the inside of the needle 21 or 23might be adjusted so lighter liquids would be driven out. Also, movableport covers 28 or 30 might have to fit tightly when closed to keeplighter viscosity liquids from escaping before injection.

[0023] For all embodiments described herein, many features detailed neednot be necessary to practice the present inventions. Likewise, mostfeatures described herein can obviously be interchanged betweenembodiments even where they are not specifically shown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodimentincorporating the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 2 is an end view of needle 21 taken from penetrating point 24end of needle 21.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of needle 21.

[0027]FIG. 4 is an end view of needle 23 taken from penetrating point 26end of needle 23.

[0028]FIG. 5 is a perspective side view of needle 23.

[0029]FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of FIG. 1.

[0030]FIG. 7 is the cross-section view of FIG. 1 after solids 66 havebeen injected.

[0031]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thepresent inventions which eliminates the need for pusher plunger 30,barrel 40 and needle ring securing nut 54.

[0032]FIG. 9 shows a motorized embodiment of the present inventions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention utilizes barrel 40,pusher plunger 38 (with modifications described below), and needlesecuring nut 54 similar to a typical home liquid food injecting syringe.Typical liquid injecting needle 56 is shown to illustrate how it mightbe interchanged with solid injecting needles 21 and 23. Primary thumbpad 58 and intermediate thumb pads 60 are also shown. As illustrated bythe dotted line thumb in FIG. 6, intermediate pads 60 help people withsmaller hands press on pusher plunger 38 when it is extended.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, four movable port covers 28 are shown insolid line in their closed positions, and in dotted line 29 in theiropen positions. Also shown in dotted line 60 is hinged needle portion inits open position and in solid line 59 in its closed position.

[0035] Needle 21 is indicated as being cylindrical tube 25 terminated onone end by penetrating point 24. Round cross-section cylindrical tube 25is volumetrically efficient, easy to clean, and offers easy to fitorientation to cylindrical plunger 36 which fits within tube 25.

[0036] Other cross-sections than round might also be used however. Asexamples, elliptical, eye shape, square, egg shape, star shape, etc.cross-sections might also be employed. Depending on the item to beinjected, these alternative cross-sections may work and may even provideadditional benefits. As an example, an eye shape cross-section may helpto close the needle hole after injection.

[0037] Penetrating point 24 is shown as the tip of a cone formed fromclosed movable port covers 28.

[0038] Four movable port covers 28 are also indicated in FIG. 2 and FIG.3. Fewer or more divisions for the port covers could also be used. Asexamples, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, etc. regularly or irregularly spaced portcovers might replace the four regularly spaced covers shown. All that isnecessary is that the port covers restrain materials within needle 21from falling out before injection and that penetrating point 24 bestrong enough to pierce the article to be injected.

[0039] Cylindrical plunger 36 laterally slides into and out of needle21. This may be either a high tolerance or low tolerance fit dependingon the coarseness of contents to be injected.

[0040] As seen in FIG. 3, movable port covers 28 and the hinged needleportion in its open position 60, as well as ring 50 are all shown indotted lines. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 shown how movable port covers 28 deflectto allow solid contents from needle 21 to exit. FIGS. 2 and 3 also showhow the hinged needle portion swings out 60 to allow loading of needle21 by scooping into the contents to be loaded like a spoon or by loadingby other means such as hand inserting contents to be injected 66 intoopen needle 21.

[0041] Hinge 72 is indicated as being as molded living hinged such asmight be used if needle 21 were molded from polypropylene or othersuitable material. Hinged 72 is shown as being biased toward the hingedneedle portion being in its open position as indicated by dotted line60. This bias assists in filling needle 21 by having the needle benaturally open and able to scoop or be filled by hand or other meansuntil needle 21 is closed and ring 50 is fitted onto it.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 4, shown in dotted line 64 is the hinged needleportion on its open position. Needle 23 is indicated as beingcylindrical tube 27 terminated on one end by penetrating point 24 formedby an angled cut across the end of cylindrical tube 27. Like needle 21,cross-sections other than round might be advantageously employed.

[0043] As seen in FIG. 5, movable port cover 30 in its open position 31,and hinged needle portion 64, as well as ring 52 are shown in dottedlines. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show in dotted line 31 how movable port cover30 deflects to allow solid contents from needle 23 to exit. FIGS. 4 and5 also show how hinged needle portion 64 swings out to allow loading ofneedle 23 by scooping into the contents to be loaded or by loading byother means such as hand inserting solid contents into open needle 23.

[0044]FIG. 1 shows the assembled embodiment of FIG. 1 readily injectingsolids 66. Hand 68 indicates one example of how the embodiment might beused. Dotted line thumb 70 shows an example of how a person with asmaller hand might operate the embodiment by pressing on disk shapedintermediate thumb pads 60. Intermediate thumb pads 60 are circular ribsdisposed orthogonal to the axis of pusher plunger 38. These intermediatepads allow pusher plunger 38 to be pressed down, using one or two hands,without having to reach primary thumb pad 58 on the end of the pusherplunger 38.

[0045]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thepresent inventions which eliminates the need for pusher plunger 30,barrel 40 and needle ring securing nut 54. Also shown are markings 76for measuring the amount of material to be injected. To utilize thesemarkings, ring 78 and needle 80 would advantageously be made from clearor translucent material. This embodiment also incorporates intermediatethumb pads 82 to make it easier for people with small hands to use theembodiment similar to intermediate thumb pads 60 on embodimentsdescribed herein. Intermediate thumb pads 82 may provide support for twothumbs simultaneously or one thumb to press on plunger 84. Likewise,primary thumb pad 86 may allow one or two hand operation.

[0046]FIG. 9 shows a motorized embodiment of the present inventions.Needle 88 does not have certain features of earlier embodiment includingsplitting 46 needle 88 and having related finger lever 74. For allembodiments described herein, many features detailed need not benecessary to practice the present inventions. Likewise, most featuresdescribed herein can obviously be interchanged between embodiments evenwhere they are not specifically shown. As an example, needle 88 in FIG.9 could be split 46 and could also have finger lever 74.

[0047] The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 has outer case 90 housing gearreduced motor driven ratchet gear 92 which drives in one direction 94plunger 96 when plunger 96 is inserted into tubular track 98 and grooves100 on plunger 96 engage ratchet gear 92, and when also the user pressesbutton switch 102 which activates rotation of ratchet gear 92. Grooves100 are held in engagement against ratchet gear 92 by pressure on theside of plunger 96 toward ratchet gear 92 from leaf spring 104. Spring104 assisted ratcheting engagement also allows plunger 96 to be insertedthrough tubular track 98 in direction 94 with manual pressure withoutactivating rotation of ratchet gear 92.

[0048] Needle 88 can be inserted and removed from outer case 90 bysliding needle 88 into and out of slots 106. This may be desirable forcleaning, or use of other needles, or for other purposes.

[0049] The embodiment may be operated in a variety of ways. As anexample, needle 88 could first be filled with materials to be injected.This could be done in several ways. As an example, before attachment toouter case 90, needle 88 might be filled through its rear and needle 88then attached to outer case 90. As another example, materials to beinjected could be dropped into hopper 108 and gravity fed into needle 88etc.

[0050] Plunger 96 could then be inserted 94 into tubular track 98 andpressed until it blocked the rear entry of needle 88. The user couldthen pierce the item to be injected with needle 88 and press buttonswitch 102 causing plunger 96 to drive the materials to be injected outof needle 88 and into the item to be injected.

[0051] Needle 88 would then be removed from the item to be injected andplunger 96 removed from outer case 90 and needle 88 by plunger 96 beingpulled in direction 94 through the tip of needle 88.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of injecting solid objects such aspeanuts, walnuts, pineapple and lemon chunks, garlic cloves and othersolid objects into food articles using a tube with a food piercing tiphaving a moving member to retain solid objects within the tube on itsfront end, and the method comprising the steps of: loading the solidobjects through the rear end of the tube and the solid objects beingrestrained from exiting the front end of the tube by the moving member;behind the solid objects, placing a first plunger into the tube;piercing a food article with the food piercing tip; and moving the firstplunger through the tube causing the solid objects to push against anddeflect the moving member and causing the solid objects to be ejectedfrom the tube through the food piercing tip and into the pierced foodarticle.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising using hand power tomove the first plunger through the tube.
 3. A device to inject solidobjects such as peanuts, walnuts, pineapple and lemon chunks, garliccloves, and other solid objects into foods, the device comprising: atube having a first open end to receive the solid objects; a tip on anopposite second end of the tube and the tip having a moving member witha first position to restrain the solid objects in the tube from exitingthe tube, the moving member having a second position which allows thesolid objects to pass through the tip, and the tip being pointed topierce into food articles; a pushing member which fits into the tubethrough its open end and which pushes the solid objects through the tubeand through the tip while the tip is pierced into a food article; andactivation means to move the pushing member in the tube causing thesolid objects to be ejected from the sleeve, through the tip, and intothe pierced food article.
 4. The device of claim 3 further comprisingthe tube having a generally regular hollow interior along its length,and from time to time the tip having an opening formed in part by themoving member, and the opening being about equal to the cross-section ofthe hollow interior bore.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein theactivation means is powered by hand.